Caladium plant named ‘Flare’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Flare’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; lance-type leaves that are shiny in luster with rose red-colored centers surrounded by a greyed green and pink-colored speckling and dark green-colored margins; and good landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FLARE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladiumplant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referredto as a lance (strap) leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘Flare’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create newCaladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container andgarden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in April, 2007 in Lake Placid, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum‘White Christmas’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent withCaladium×hortulanum ‘Rosemary’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,993,the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment inZolfo Springs, Fla. on Sep. 15, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by ‘chipping’ the tubers(cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing anaxillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nurseryenvironment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since Apr. 15, 2009 has shown thatthe unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Flare’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Flare’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Lance-type leaves that are shiny in luster with rose        red-colored centers surrounded by a greyed green and        pink-colored speckling and dark green-colored margins.    -   4. Good landscape performance.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘White Christmas’, in leaf shape and color as plants of ‘WhiteChristmas’ have broad fancy-type white-colored leaves with distinct darkgreen-colored venation and margins. In addition, plants of the newCaladium are more compact than plants of ‘White Christmas’.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Rosemary’, in leaf and leaf petiole color as plants of‘Rosemary’ have leaves that are darker rose red in color with mottledlight and dark green-colored borders and leaf petioles that are tan pinkto tan green in color with greenish brown-colored stippling. Inaddition, plants of the new Caladium are more compact than plants of‘Rosemary’.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants ofCaladium×hortulanum ‘Florida Sweetheart’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 8,526. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladiumdiffered primarily from plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were more upright than plants of        ‘Florida Sweetheart’.    -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grew faster and produced finished        plants about one week earlier than plants of ‘Florida        Sweetheart’.    -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ differed        in leaf luster and coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Florida        Sweetheart’ were dull and had lighter rose red-colored centers        and dark green-colored margins.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants ofCaladium×hortulanum ‘Pink Symphony’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plantsof ‘Pink Symphony’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were more compact than plants of        ‘Pink Symphony’.    -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grew faster and produced finished        plants about one to two weeks earlier than plants of ‘Pink        Symphony’.    -   3. Plants of the new Caladium had broader leaves than plants of        ‘Pink Symphony’.    -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Pink Symphony’ differed in        leaf luster and coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Pink        Symphony’ were dull with mostly pink or pale pink-colored        centers surrounded by a green-colored border with white to        greenish white-colored venation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Flare’ in a 15-cm container and grown in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a comparison view oftypical plants of ‘Flare’ grown in 15-cm containers; the plant on theleft has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has hadits tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Flare’.

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a close-up view oftypical freshly-harvested tubers and roots of ‘Flare’.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a close-up view oftypical plants of ‘Flare’ grown in an open field.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a comparison view oftypical potted plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ (left), ‘Flare’ (center)and ‘Pink Symphony’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a comparison view oftypical potted plants of the female parent, ‘White Christmas’ (left),‘Flare’ (center) and the male parent, ‘Rosemary’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in apolypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% light reduction) in Avon Park,Fla. and plants grown in ground beds in an outdoor nursery inCrewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typicalof commercial shadehouse and outdoor nursery production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to33° C. (shadehouse) or 29° C. to 35° C. (outdoor nursery), nighttemperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. (shadehouse) or 23° C.to 26° C. (outdoor nursery) and light levels were about 8,000foot-candles (shadehouse) or 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles (outdoornursery). Plants grown in the shadehouse were eight weeks old and plantsgrown in the outdoor nursery were seven months old when the photographsand the detailed description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Flare’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘White            Christmas’, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Rosemary’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,993.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at            32° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at            24° C.        -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown            plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented and somewhat flattened;            individual segments ovate to elliptic in shape. Height:            About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 3.6 cm. Segment height: About            2 cm. Segment diameter: About 1.4 cm. Texture: Thick,            starchy; somewhat brittle. Color: Epidermis,            freshly-harvested: Close to 199A and N199B. Epidermis,            dried: Close to 200A to 200B. Cortical tissue: Close to 2C            to 2D. Axillary buds: Close to 27C. Root description: Thick,            fleshy contractile roots; color, close to 155C. Rooting            habit: Few lateral branches; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant            in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape            plant in shaded areas.        -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly            mounding plant habit; vigorous and dense growth habit; rapid            growth rate, potted plants in finished or saleable form in            about six to seven weeks after planting tubers; leaf            petioles and leaves arise from one or more growing points on            tubers; petioles mostly upright and arching outwardly with            development.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,            shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 26 cm to 30 cm.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,            shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 37 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted            plants.—About 39 cm to 44 cm.        -   Number of clumps per plant, shadehouse-grown potted            plants.—About three to four from de-eyed tubers.        -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About 4            cm to 6.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm to 1.8 cm. Shape:            Wedge-shaped. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Sheathing the stem.            Color, outer surface: Close to N170D and N170D tinged with            close to 182D; stippled, streaked and tessellated with close            to 200C and faintly tinged with close to 147D; with            development, color becoming closer to 200D. Color, inner            surface: Close to N155C; outer surface colors and patterns            visible.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; lance-type.        -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 16 cm to 20            cm.        -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants, flattened.—About 10.9            cm to 13 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Sagittate, peltate; cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire; wavy with broad undulations.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; leathery; shiny in            luster.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glaucous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing leaves,            upper and lower surfaces: Background color: Central areas,            close to 185B tinged with close to 53B and 182A to 182B;            marginal areas, close to 183A; margins, close to 147A. Basal            notch: Close to 187A. Venation: Close to 53B and 187B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Background color: Central            areas, close to 185B tinged with close to 53B with flecking            close to 182A to 182B; marginal areas, close to 183A with            flecking close to 157A, 147C, 184B and 182A to 182B;            margins, close to 147A and 139A. Basal notch: Close to 187A.            Venation: Close to 53B and 187C. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Background color: Central areas, close to            184B to 184C with flecking close to 160D and 182D; marginal            areas, close to 184A to 184B with flecking close to 160D;            margins, close to 187B. Basal notch: Close to 187B.            Venation: Close to 184A tinged with close to 53B.        -   Petiole.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight; with            development, leaning outwardly and curving; flexible.            Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 16 cm to            27 cm. Diameter, distal, shadehouse-grown potted plants:            About 4 mm. Diameter, proximal, shadehouse-grown potted            plants: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Color, shadehouse-grown potted            plants: Close to N170D and N170D tinged with close to 182D,            stippled, streaked and tessellated with close to 200C and            faintly tinged with close to 147D; distally, close to 51 C            stippled, streaked and tessellated with close to 184C to            184D. Wing length, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 3.5            cm to 10.2 cm. Wing diameter, shadehouse-grown potted            plants: About 4 mm to 9 mm. Wing color, shadehouse-grown            potted plants, outer surface: Close to N170D and N170D            tinged with close to 182D, stippled, streaked and            tessellated with close to 200C and faintly tinged with close            to 147D. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted plants, inner            surface: Close to N155C; outer surface colors and patterns            visible.-   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on ten week-old    shadehouse-grown potted plants.    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes            surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape;            spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers            separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the            lower one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on the            upper two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop at            junction of female and male flower zones; near this            junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses            the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male            flowers.        -   Fragrance.—Strongly night fragrant; sweet jasmine-like            fragrance with camphor-like notes.        -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the            new Caladium typically flower during the spring or early            summer in central Florida; flowers develop about ten weeks            after growth commences; inflorescences last about three days            before fading; inflorescences persistent.        -   Spathe.—Length, overall: About 12.5 cm. Length, distal open            portion: About 8.7 cm. Length, proximal closed portion:            About 3.8 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 2.2 cm.            Width, at constriction: About 1 cm. Width, proximal closed            portion: About 2 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Tapering to the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Texture, front and            rear surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, front surface:            Distal open portion: Close to 160D and 159D; proximally            speckled with close to 60B; with development, color becoming            closer to N199B. Proximal closed portion: Close to 138C and            147C; towards the base, heavily tinged with close to 187A            and 187C to 187D; color does not change with development.            Color, rear surface: Distal open portion: Close to 160D and            157C to 157D. Proximal closed portion: Close to 195B to            195C, 160D and 147D with areas tinged with close to 181D and            183D.        -   Spadix.—Length: About 7.7 cm. Length, male flower zone:            About 5.8 cm. Length, sterile zone: Less than 1 cm. Length,            female flower zone: About 1.9 cm. Diameter, male flower            zone: About 9 mm. Diameter, sterile flower zone: About 7 mm.            Diameter, female flower zone: About 1 cm. Shape: Columnar,            spindle-shaped. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Aspect: Upright.            Color, mature, male zone: Close to 159D. Color, mature,            sterile zone: Close to 159D. Color, mature, female zone:            Close to 19C to 19D. Male flowers: Quantity per spadix:            About 105. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter:            About 3.5 mm. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close            to 5D. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 115.            Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Stigma color: Close to 158B. Ovary color: Close to 155C.        -   Scape.—Length: About 24.5 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous; glaucous. Color: Close to 199D tinged with            close to N170D and stippled, streaked and tessellated with            close to 177A to 177B; distally, close to 147B to 147C            tinged with close to 183C to 183D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Caladium.-   Disease & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been    observed to have above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot    and to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot. Plants of the new    Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and    other pathogens common to Caladium plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about    40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Flare’ asillustrated and described.